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Sunday, April 13, 2014

A Table by the Window Book Review

The youngest heir to a
French-Italian restaurant dynasty, food writer Juliette D’Alisa has
spent her life negotiating her skill with words and her restaurant
aspirations. When her brother Nico offers her a chance to open a
restaurant together, she feels torn—does she really have what it takes?
Should she risk leaving her journalism career?

After the death
of her grandmother, Juliette discovers an antique photograph of a man
who looks strikingly like her brother. As the truth behind the picture
reveals romance and dark secrets, Juliette struggles to keep the mystery
away from her nosy family until she can uncover the whole story.

Inspired
by her grandmother’s evolving story, Juliette resolves to explore the
world of online dating. To her surprise, she finds a kindred spirit in
Neil McLaren, a handsome immunologist based in Memphis, Tennessee. With a
long-distance relationship simmering, Juliette faces life-shifting
decisions. How can she possibly choose between a promising culinary life
and Neil, a man a world away in more ways than one? And is it possible
her Grandmother’s story can help show the way? (Goodreads)

My Review

What a beautifully written story. Any book about food is bound to be good but this book really is in the top ten for the year. I love the characters and how the author writes. It's unique and fun with a mix of recipes at the end of each chapter. The start of each chapter starts with a food type quote which I loved every time I turned that page!

Here is my favorite: "No one who cooks, cooks alone. Even at her most solitary, a cook in the kitchen is surrounded by generations of cooks past, the advice and menus of cooks present, the wisdom of cookbook writers. -Laurie Colwin" (A Table by the Window)

There is a pinch of romance but what really fills the pages is a close knit family who come together no matter what is happening. Food is their lives and I loved reading about how they ran the restaurant and made food. The mystery keeps the book flowing with Juliette's grandmother's trunk and it's hidden treasures. The ending is rather abrupt and I found there is to be a sequel!

This book has a great feel to it and I ate every page up. (Pun intended)